Phenom II x2 555 underclock & 4.2 volts to unlock cores?

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I purchased a couple of Phenom II x2 processors from Newegg for about $80 each to play around with and try out the "core unlocking" feature of my new Biostar TA880GU3+ motherboard. I've never had a motherboard with the capability of unlocking cores, so I wanted to at least play around with it a bit.

I am upgrading from an Athlon II x2 2.8 GHz to the new Phenom II 3.2 GHz. I'm hoping that out of the two processors, I can get one that is at least a triple core. So far, I don't seem to be having any success with the first one, and I'm wondering if I should give up and move on to cpu #2....

Here's what I've been trying. I've underclocked the processor down as far as 50% (1600 MegaHertz/1.6 GHz). I've also slowly increased the core voltage all the way up to 1.42 volts. I have tried activating only the third core, and only the fourth core. Every time, the system locks up when first loading the Windows screen after the BIOS screens.

Anything else I should try, or is it time to move on to testing the second processor?

Thanks!

 

[Vesku]

Do you mean 1.42 volts? Overclockers often go up to 1.5 but I don't like to go over 1.45. You can try lowering the HT bus speed and adding 0.025 or 0.050 to the northbridge voltage. If you still aren't stable even at 1.6GHz then I'd say it's time to try the second cpu.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Yep, I meant 1.42 volts - just forgot the 1. Thanks for the hints!

 

[sangyup81]

Phenom II X2 560 C3 stepping unlocked to 4 cores, overclocked to 3.93MHz CPU, 2.9 CPU-NB, 1.6125v CPU, 1.55v CPU-NB, LLC off (volts are the bios settings and are lower on load)

Cooled with a Corsair H50 with second fan added

Oh yeah and this is on an ASUS M4A89GTD Pro USB3 (AMD 890GX Chipset)

I'm sorry you're having trouble with the 555. Did you make sure to get a C3 stepping? Also, are you upping the CPU-NB voltage? The CPU-NB is affected by the cores

 

[soccerballtux]

I purchased a couple of Phenom II x2 processors from Newegg for about $80 each to play around with and try out the "core unlocking" feature of my new Biostar TA880GU3+ motherboard. I've never had a motherboard with the capability of unlocking cores, so I wanted to at least play around with it a bit.

I am upgrading from an Athlon II x2 2.8 GHz to the new Phenom II 3.2 GHz. I'm hoping that out of the two processors, I can get one that is at least a triple core. So far, I don't seem to be having any success with the first one, and I'm wondering if I should give up and move on to cpu #2....

Here's what I've been trying. I've underclocked the processor down as far as 50% (1600 MegaHertz/1.6 GHz). I've also slowly increased the core voltage all the way up to 1.42 volts. I have tried activating only the third core, and only the fourth core. Every time, the system locks up when first loading the Windows screen after the BIOS screens.

Anything else I should try, or is it time to move on to testing the second processor?

Thanks!

correct move on to the 2nd one. You are doing it right. You don't need to underclock though. For me I just popped on ACC rebooted and bam 4 cores.

 

[soccerballtux]

Phenom II X2 560 C3 stepping unlocked to 4 cores, overclocked to 3.93MHz CPU, 2.9 CPU-NB, 1.6125v CPU, 1.55v CPU-NB, LLC off (volts are the bios settings and are lower on load)

Cooled with a Corsair H50 with second fan added

Oh yeah and this is on an ASUS M4A89GTD Pro USB3 (AMD 890GX Chipset)

I'm sorry you're having trouble with the 555. Did you make sure to get a C3 stepping? Also, are you upping the CPU-NB voltage? The CPU-NB is affected by the cores

pretty nice OC.

 

[richierich1212]

Yeah AMD has pretty much limited the 555 to X2 these days. 560 has better chance of unlocking.

 

[Kevmanw430]

I bought a 555 BE around christmas, popped it in the MSI 760G motherboard I had, turned on ACC and it got 4 cores immediatly. Undervolted a little and still managed to OC to 3.8GHz, on a Hyper 212+. Around 62C after 8 hours on Prime95.

 

[GaiaHunter]

I bought a 555 BE around christmas, popped it in the MSI 760G motherboard I had, turned on ACC and it got 4 cores immediatly. Undervolted a little and still managed to OC to 3.8GHz, on a Hyper 212+. Around 62C after 8 hours on Prime95.

Same here - the 555 got to 4 cores. 4rd core doesn't like to go over 3.6 GHz though.

 

[Rhoxed]

i had a 720BE unlock to 4core (2009?) and a athlon II x3 450 unlock into a quad (about three weeks ago) - Hope your 2nd chips works out for you

 

[VirtualLarry]

I had a 720BE unlock and overclock to a 3.2Ghz Phenom quad-core, and a 550 or 555BE that didn't unlock.

 

[Arzachel]

555 BE purchased last summer happily running all for cores @ 3Ghz on 1.15v here.